How to camp?

I have a cap on my truck and live in the back for 3+ weeks a year. I have a very basic setup: 5 gallon Coleman water jug (you want something with a spigot, not just a giant jug). I use this for drinking, and for "trailhead showers"- with a washcloth. This gets secured to the side of the bed with two bungie cords- one around the side, one over the top. The cord over the top is mandatory if you're going off-road. I also have ~6 one quart Nalgene bottles for water that mostly stay in the cab- but I keep one or two in the back to drink from during the night. I have the rubber bed mat and a piece of indoor/outdoor carpeting on top of it. Massive Thermarest mattress, ~2.5". You don't just want an air mattress, you want something that has insulation inside it if you are going somewhere cold. Good sleeping bag, generally 10F rating. I usually use this unzipped and as a blanket unless the temp drops below freezing. Pillows. Camp chair. MSR Pocket Rocket camp stove that uses the fuel canisters. I generally don't cook as I go to town for a big meal on most afternoons or early evening after hiking/climbing; I make sure I have leftovers or buy something extra like a giant sandwich for when I won't be in civilization for a few days. Cooler for beer and extra food- in the cab. Clothes in duffle bags in the cab. I have ~6 bags that are all different in some way and keep a list of what's in each. Yes I know this sounds crazy, but it's necessary if you ever want to find anything!
The key to living out of a truck is organization. I try to set aside ~15 minutes each day to put everything away, in the proper location. This is really important when you're looking for your rain jacket during a downpour and can't find it because it's buried somewhere.
I go to CO and most mountain towns have some type of shower access- campgrounds, city pool, hot springs, laundry mat. If they have the option to take a shower only, it's usually $5. Plus, I don't feel gross there because the humidity is so low, and you start your hike when it's cold in the morning. Rechargeable battery razor. DC charger for AAA batteries that plugs into lighter. Headlamp- one in the cab, one in the back. Small duffle bag in the back with the basic sleeping clothes, eye drops, etc. Small power inverter for anything that can't plug into the lighter.
Basic toolkit. Jumper cables. Battery jump pack. Tow straps. Tire plug kit. DC air compressor that hooks to battery terminals. Tire pressure gauge. Spare (truck) headlamp bulb.
Mouse proof your truck. Cover the cabin air entrance under the cowl plate with 1/4 wire mesh. You will get mice inside unless you do this. I also covered the "exhaust" vent that's at the rear of the access cab- back wall of cab.
I could go on longer, but...

 

@TacoTuesday1

Everyone covered everything you need to know and then some.

As a backpacker and camper, I can say the majority of us follow what's been said.

Only thing I haven't seen mentioned is bathroom - there are some parks/blm/etc. where you are not allowed to do your business and bury it.

So invest in a portable bathroom that breaks down easily, is lightweight, and doesn't cost much -



This is a setup I got for me and several TW members to use when we camped and wheeled at Moab.

Worked well and everyone was happy to take a shit in peace.

 

I spend a lot of time out in the wild green yonder. There's a lot of good advice in this thread. It's very possible to do more with less. A portable bathroom might be nice for folks who don't want their partner to believe they poop, but I prefer a "poo with a view" rather than being in a stinky enclosure. I have the bucket and the seat, but we've never used them - we just straddle the bag. On extended deep backcountry trips, we even get multiple days out of each bag. We pour the powder into the zippered bag, and store multiple zippered bags in the larger bag - incase of spillage, and then put all of it into a rafting dry bag.

We tote the 2 burner Coleman on extended road trips, but get a lot more use out of our single burner backpack stove, even truck camping. We cook in stainless steel cups much of the time, which double as coffee mugs and cocktail glasses.

Refrigeration is highly overrated - just plan ahead. A little creative preparation can have you eating well without worrying about your ice. If you have to bring the Yeti (or similar), pack an insulated bag inside of it for your ice. The ice will last a lot longer, and your cooler stuff doesn't need to be ice cold, that's a waste of ice and cooler space. Also, pack frozen water jugs/ bottles for ice - you can drink it as/ once it melts. Fragile dry goods can be stored in the cooler too, if there's room.

 

On the topic of ice chests if you're on a budget or don't feel like dropping $400+ on a cooler I have been pleasantly surprised with my Walmart brand knock off Yeti. It's my work cooler and it held ice all day sitting in the sun on a 100+ degree day.

Also if you have a little extra cash, 3 products that have vastly upped the experience are a good tent, good sleeping platform, and a water port. Pressurized water in camp is awesome.

 

All good mentioned ,also hammer for tent stakes. I know they mentioned jump starter packs, these are great for phone charging if needed and they usually have a built in flashlight. After use recharge with truck so its ready if you need it for jumping. Flashlights for sure. I have an old heavy framing hammer I bring for the tent stakes to set them and pull them out. Enjoy !

 

Camping is a learning experience, something I've been doing for 50+ years when it was just called car camping.
So many variables as to where you're going, how long you're going, what you're going to do when you get there and the weather. Lots of good ideas already on here as to what to bring, but focus on how to stay warm and dry. How to sleep comfortably and how to eat well.

Every time you go make note of what worked well and what didn't, as well as what you wished you had. Take care of those things before your next trip. My gear is constantly evolving based on what can I do easier and better.

Now just get out there and enjoy.

 

I went camping up in northern Maine a couple weeks back.

I thought I was reasonably well prepared until the rain Thursday night, and pretty much all day Friday. In a tent with a rainfly, tarp underneath, on an air mattress with with sheets and a blanket; I froze my balls off. The plastic air mattress just sucked the heat right out of my body. Waking up to a Chinese water torture at 3:00 a.m. was no fun. I eventually crawled into my truck around 4:30 and cranked the heat. My whole body ached and I had a chill I did not get rid of till around 2:00 that afternoon.

So I did what I need normal sane flatlander would do and made a 2-hour round trip to home Depot and Wally world for tarps, tent stakes, paracord, and a pop-up shelter/sun shade , and most importantly, towels.

Used the pop up to push up a tarp I set up the day before. Tarp , stakes, paracord, about 30 minutes and the tent was rain tight. Towels dropped the the inside of the tent and I turned the truck into a dryer to dry the sheets, blanket, etc.

As for food, chicken, steak, vegetables that I cut up and put in Reynolds foil bags with some spices and oil and threw them on the grill. I had milk for my instant coffee (gross) and cereal. Bacon and eggs.

I have a gooseneck that attaches to a 20 lb propane tank and gives me three ports. Two of those ports get a hose that connects to a stove and grill. The last part is on the top and is for a lantern. That goose neck was one of the best investments I made.

If it is not waterproof, and you care about it, put it in a ziplock bag. I put everything that were dry goods in Ziploc bags and I had no issues when my cooler full of dry stuff was left open a crack and water got inside.

The pic with the sagging tarp got the pop up. Cheap rope stretched pretty good. Lol



Fun times...6/10 recommend. Lol

 

If he’s out west probably not a problem with the rain. We usually only get summer thunderstorms that can be intense but quick.

 

Don't pay the rent

You'll be camping.



Load everything you think you need in the truck, then leave half of it at home and take more water. Learning how to "make do" is what it's all about.

 

People tend to over complicate this camping thing, especially in the age of overlanding via instagram.

Water, food, shelter. Everything else is a luxury.


I would, however, suggest that if this is your first time away from flush toilets and room service, to cut your teeth at an established campground. Something at least with a pit toilet. Plan for just a night or two. You can survive a night if you literally forget everything.

Also, don't focus on the gear you're "supposed" to have. Focus on the experience of being in nature the way YOU want to experience it. Start small and simple, and keep a list of stuff you wish you had that trip, then pick it up before the next trip. If you base your gear list of what other people have, or the sponsored content on facebook or instagram, you are guaranteed to spend a bunch of money you didn't need to.

 

This! At least six rotopax are needed for an overnight camping trip!

 

I have a ~200 mile range when in 4wd. You can drive for days and not use half a tank.

Especially when you're just starting out, you are WAY in over your head if you need extra gas just to get where you're going.

Best to stick closer to home to start.

 

If people didn't want to "make due" they probably wouldn't be camping in the first place.

Aww, you guys shared the shitter?

I remember catching flack for even suggesting it!

 

Wait what?

I think one or two people brought their own but just used the same tent I had set up.

That or maybe no one wanted to share one with you

 

That's fair. I wouldn't either.

 

Don't tell me you and your wife have separate bathrooms...

 

Make it easy on yourself, grab 2-3 totes from Walmart or Costco and label for camping. One for paper towels, cups, cutlery, pots pans etc.. another for tent, tent stakes, tarps, propane etc.. and another for dry food. I used three boxes and a cooler for years before I started getting fancy with unnecessary shit.. It’s too fun!

 

see post #5

 

haha, agreed but if someone from the city, who is used to seeing a gas station on every corner, all of a sudden drives a couple hundred miles to get out into the "wilderness" and next thing ya know...you're searching for cell service to find the closest gas station lol. I'd rather stick a couple gallon can in the bed of the truck and know I have a little extra distance. Or just carry a bike with you. Either way.

 

I mean, we do have 2 bathrooms...